CORONARY-ARTERIES - RETROSPECTIVE CARDIAC GATING TECHNIQUE TO REDUCE CARDIAC MOTION ARTIFACT AT SPIRAL CT

Coronary artery calcification is a marker of atherosclerosis. Detectio n and quantification has previously been accomplished with electron-be am computed tomography (CT). Use of spiral CT for this application has been limited by cardiac motion. The authors evaluated a retrospective cardiac-gated postprocessing technique that necessitates no modificat ion of scanner hardware or software. At spiral CT in 26 patients, moti on artifact was reduced, coronary arteries were consistently visualize d, and quantification of calcification could be performed in those pat ients with prominent deposits. Coronary artery calcification screening can therefore be offered in sites that have access to only spiral CT.